Question to current CRNAs

[malenurse69, MSN, NP]

Hello fellow nurses! Long time lurker, first time poster. Posting from my phone so please excuse any funky spelling.

So I'm in the process of completing nursing school, and as any smart student would do I was looking ahead to see opportunities for advancement. I looked and researched all fields and narrowed it down to two, nurse practitioner and CRNA. Finances aside, the more I read and research anesthesia the more excited I get, something I think I'd totally love to do. Once I become an RN I will for sure shadow a CRNA asap to get a reality check and see if it is where I want to advance.

Now here is my situation, the school I'm currently going to only requires basic inorganic/organic chemistry (the survey classes per sei, one semester for each WITHOUT a lab,) a basic microbiology, and a tough anatomy/phys class with lab. That's it then you go onto your nursing classes. I keep reading most if not all CRNA schools require the HARD chemstry classes (2 semester inorganic chem with lab and organic with lab,) also the one crna school close to me *prefers* you have done physics as well which requires calculus.

So my question is: since getting into nursing school required the easier classes which i have taken, will i need to take 2 years worth of classes (harder chems/physics etc) while im working as an RN to even qualify for CRNA school? Is this the normal route most SRNA's go? I know every CRNA school has varied requirements but I've seen it a trend to have the harder science classes as a requirement and most schools around here only need the basic ones to get your BSN. Tell me im not crazy and this is normal lol.

Thank you sincerely for your time!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome to AN!

Thread moved for best response:)

[phuretrotr]

Although I am NOT a CRNA or a SRNA or an RN, I am in nursing school like you and have done my research on CRNA schools as well. What I have seen is that what you describe is fairly common. I think the main thing is, is that when you go want to go into an advance specialized field, you need more specialized and advanced classes/pre-requisites. Since CRNA's deal with a lot of chemistry, that may be why they want you to have a good understanding of the material.

You describe having to take hard chemistry classes versus easy ones (I'm not sure either is easy :)) BUT I have seen CRNA schools require a combo such as Chem I & II. Your basic chemistry class might qualify for Chem I, but it might not. It just depends on where your credits transfer. In that case, you may only have to take Chem II instead of two more semesters of chemistry. However, you say that your chemistry course were without lab and that would pose a problem.

For physics, I do not think a lot of RN programs or CRNA schools require it, but it might just be a programs choice to add that material in as they believe it is essential. But overall, with any advanced degree, they want you to be prepared for advanced stuff.

I hope I helped a little. A SRNA might be more help.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Pick out 5-6 nurse anesthesia schools you think you might be interested in and see what their prerequisites are. You will more than likely be required to take Organic chem or biochemistry. IMHO physics and calculus are more of weed out classes for NA school than anything else. I found neither one very helpful in anesthesia school. The math and physics taught in NA school are basic college level that is relatively easy to grasp.